The Western Ghats, the Great Escarpment of the Indian Subcontinent, stretch parallel to the west coast of India over nearly 1600 km from Kanyakumari (8°N) to Tapti valley in Gujarat (21 °N). They are considered one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world, and yet harbour significant forest cover, characterized by invaluable endemic flora and fauna. harbour significant forest cover, characterized by invaluable endemic flora and fauna. The "Forest Map of South India Project" covers the central and southern parts of the Western Ghats (from Goa to Kanyakumari). The area is covered in six maps at 1:250,000 scale. Following an ecological classification system that considers floristic composition, physiognomy and phenology, the natural vegetation is depicted along bioclimatic gradients and disturbance regimes. These maps were prepared in collaboration with the Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu Forest Departments. The extent of the present map is between 11°30 and 13° Latitude North and between 76°45 and 79° Longitude East, covering the southeastern part of Karnataka and the north western part of Tamil Nadu. Bangalore is on the northern side of the map.